Sebastien Bourdais in F1?

Question

Why isn't this guy in F1? Triple Champ Car titles and still can't get anything more than a testing role. It's fair enough that big teams like Ferrari/McLaren/Renault don't want to experiment (and they have contracts with established drivers), and Bourdais is probably being a little picky and doesn't want to go to smaller teams like Aguris, and Spykers, but I would have thought that Toyota/BMW/Red Bull could well afford him....he's gotta be way better than some unknown rookies

Answer 1

There are probably a couple of reasons why Sebastien Bourdais is not in Formula One.
The Champ Car series is perceived, and with good reason, as being a weak one.
When it was known as CART, it fancied itself as the equal of Formula One (many of the principals, including engineers were refugees from F1), now it's down to a spec series - one chassis, one engine and one tire - and, for the past two years, had trouble mustering 17 or 18 cars for each race.
Also, Bourdais admitted this week that there were offers from (unnamed) F1 team(s) of a testing role for 2007. However, he rejected them because there was no guarantee of a full-time ride in 2008.
I'm sure he's as good, if not better than several current F1 drivers, but he'll first have to accept a testing role if he wants to get a full-time seat with an F1 team. Of course he could enhance his chances by using Flavio Briatore as his manager, but he seems reluctant to do that, and hand over a fair chunk of his earnings to the flamboyant Italian.
By the way 'Sean B', Alessandro Zanardi didn't start (his F1 career) with Williams; he first raced for Jordan in 1991 (Spain, Japan and Australia), before moving to Minardi for one race in 1992 and Lotus (1993 and 1994), then to CART before returning to F1 for an unsuccessful 1999 season with Williams.

Answer 2

He wants to be in F1, I think he's done some testing. I think the reason is that the big teams don't want to take the chance, like you say, but can the smaller or mid-pack teams who have available slots afford him? He's the man in CART and has the paycheck to prove it. Montoya, Villeneuve, and Zanardi all started at Williams (I think Montoya did, at least) and the reason is that Frank Williams could give them at least something for their efforts. It's a little bit of a two-way street.

Answer 3

Even Paul Tracy thinks he's earned a shot at F1. Must be some kind of politics or other BS involved. F1's loss is ChampCar's gain?